A Blue Jacket & A Red Coat and Crown
Agriculture Advocate, Claire Murnin
Pompey’s Pillar, Montana
Written by Cyd Hoefle
Photography contributed by Claire Murnin
Winter Issue - 2026
As a young girl, Claire Murnin had lofty dreams. She wanted to show cattle and be a princess. When she met Sally Yon, a former American Angus Queen, an everlasting goal was fostered.
“She was like a Disney princess to me,” Claire said. “But she also showed cattle and I wanted to be like her. I wanted to show cattle and be a princess of Angus cattle too!”
It would be a few years before Claire achieved her dreams, but the seeds planted in her heart at that tender age would grow and flourish to fruition.
Raised on a registered Angus operation at Pompey’s Pillar, Claire started her cattle-showing career with an Angus heifer as an 8-year-old in 4-H. It was the beginning of a decade of not only showing cattle in 4-H and FFA but growing her own registered Angus herd on her family’s ranch, Murnin Angus.
“I have about 25 head of my own registered Angus,” Claire said.
Caring for and showing livestock, developing leadership skills, and learning to serve, all culminated with being elected Montana State FFA President as well as winning the title of Miss American Angus for the American Angus Association (AAA).
Claire was active in 4-H through high school and joined FFA in the seventh grade. In both clubs, she showed cattle. She also showed pigs and sheep before she honed in entirely on Angus cattle.
“The sheep weren’t for me,” she laughed. “But showing cattle, that’s what I like doing.”
Claire was a freshman at Shepherd High School when she witnessed the benefits of FFA.
“One of my best friends was elected to state office for FFA,” Claire said. “Seeing what an impact being a state officer had on her and the opportunities that it opened impressed me.”
Claire added another dream to her repertoire; to become a state FFA officer too. At about the same time, after a trip to the national FFA convention and a speech on agriculture advocacy and social media, Claire began daily social media posts on her newly launched platform, “365daysofagriculture.”
“Initially I started posting facts about agriculture,” Claire said. “But it’s evolved into a glimpse of my daily life and how I am being an advocate for the industry.”
The short reels that are posted on Instagram and TikTok are a combination of videos and photos of Claire going about her daily life, washing cattle for a show, doing chores in the predawn hours, trekking through snow to check cows or prepping for an FFA event. Claire’s authenticity is evident.
“I try to be educational and objective in what I post,” she explained. “I haven’t missed a single day of posting in the last three years. I feel like it makes a difference and I’d love to continue for as long as possible.”
With her daily media platform; her term as state FFA President; her reign as Angus Queen; her education and her contribution to the family ranch: Claire stays busy.
“It’s been quite a year,” she said. “The real excitement started when I was elected state FFA President.”
Claire wouldn’t have it any other way. She graduated from Shepherd High School right after being elected and following a whirlwind summer of FFA functions, she began online college courses through MSU-Billings. In November she started her reign as the first Montanan to hold the title of Miss American Angus. The year will be filled with travel, conventions, events, sales and conferences for both FFA and AAA. With a full schedule, the 18-year-old will stay busy, but utmost in her mind is service responsibilities as a state FFA officer and as Miss American Angus.
As FFA President, Claire is required to attend statewide contests, events and conferences. She will also visit FFA chapters across the state encouraging membership and opportunities for students.
“There are many ways that students perceive us as officers,” Claire began. “We’re not that important as individuals, what’s important is the members’ experience. That’s what they will remember, not the person initiating the experience, but the experience itself.”
Claire’s role as Angus Queen is similar. She will travel to all the major stock shows across the country and attend as many Angus production sales as her schedule allows. Her parents, Jared and Julie Murnin, have encouraged her every step of the way.
“Thankfully I have the support of my family,” Claire said. “They truly are involved in every single part of what I’m doing. My younger brother, Cooper, calls himself ‘The Coatrack for Miss American Angus.’ I’m so grateful. Without them, I couldn’t do what I’m doing.”
As she wraps up her term as President and her year as Angus Queen, Claire will begin a more studious focus; a degree in Animal Science on a pre-law track, with plans to become an agricultural lobbyist.
“Right now, I hope to be an inspiration to young people as an advocate for both FFA and the Angus breed,” Claire said. “Both associations have a heart for service, and that’s the role I have taken on. How can I impact others, whether it’s through FFA, the Angus Association or 365daysofagriculture? At the end of the day, that’s what counts.”
